Elected professional member of Royal Birmingham Society of Artists 1919 - 1930First listed in the Society's exhibition catalogues as an Associate member in Spring 1919.
From Spring 1927 listed as R.B.S.A.

Elected RBSA Royal Birmingham Society of Artists 1930 - 1950First listed in the Society's exhibition catalogues as a full Member in Autumn 1930. Still listed as a full Member in Autumn 1950.

Elected to membership of Royal Society of British Sculptors 1938Elected as a 'Fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors'. Had been an associate member from 1934. See 'Honour for Mr. William Bloye', Birmingham Post, 15 June, 1938, in 'Birmingham Biography', vol. 29, pp. 8-9.

Member of Birmingham Art Circle January 1918 - 1921 (Probable)Bloye was nominated in December 1917, and was elected with 31 votes in January 1918.
Listed in the 'Register of Members' (1879-2002)as ceasing to be a member in 1921. Probably due to failure to pay fees. There is also a note, however, in this book that states 'paid for years 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922 on April 14th 1938'. He exhibited works of
sculpture in the Art Circle exhibitions from 1918 to 1920.

Member of council Royal Birmingham Society of Artists 1948 - 1950Listed in the Society's catalogues as a 'Council Member' in Spring 1948; this was the first time that 'Council Members'listings had appeared in the exhibition catalogues. Listed as a Council Member in Autumn 1950

Professor of sculpture at Royal Birmingham Society of Artists 1946 - 1951Listed in the Society's exhibition catalogues as 'Professor of Sculpture' from Autumn 1946 to Spring 1951.

Studied at Birmingham Municipal School of Art, Central SchoolSee 'Sculptor's Work', Birmingham Weekly Post, 21 March, 1952, in 'Birmingham Biography', vol. 43, p. 146. The article notes that Bloye 'began his art education at the College (then School) of Art, where he is now head of the School of sculpture'.

Studied at Royal Academy Schools 1915 (Circa)See 'Honour for Mr. William Bloye', Birmingham Post, 15 June, 1938, in 'Birmingham Biography', vol. 29, (1938), pp. 8-9. The article notes that 'Bloye recieved his early training at the Royal Academy Schools and was for a time associated with Mr. Eric Gill'.
Bloye was awarded a two year Landseer Scholarship for Sculpture in 1915. See Royal Academy, 'Annual Report, 1915', (1916), p. 41.

Teacher of modeling at Architectural School 1923 - 1925Listed as teacher of Modelling and Stone-cutting.

Tutor at Midland Arts Club November 1945 - 6 November 1945Gave a lecture on the 'Relationship of Sculpture to Post-War Architecture.'

Unsuccessful in ballot for election to Royal Academy of ArtsFor Associate of the Royal Academy [ARA], despite nominations in 1938, 1946, 1955 and 1962.

Vice-president of Royal Birmingham Society of Artists 1946 (Presumed) - 1948First listed in the Society's exhibition catalogues as Vice-President in Autumn 1946 [no listings for Vice-Presidents from Autumn 1940 to Spring 1946]. Last listed as Vice-President in Spring 1948.

Personal and Professional Connections

Assistant to George James Frampton 1919 (Circa)See 'Sculptor's Work', Birmingham Weekly Post, 21 March, 1952, in 'Birmingham Biography', vol. 43, p. 146. The article notes that Bloye 'served in the first world war, and was assistant to Sir George Frampton, the sculptor, in London, before returning to Birmingham.

Colleague of Benjamin Hancocks 1915 - 1953Hancocks was an assistant in the Department of Modelling, Stone Carving, and Letter Cutting where Bloye was Head of Department

Citing this record

'William James Bloye ARBS', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib4_1204117746, accessed 07 Jun 2020]